End-gate fastener



(No Model.)

W. E. PLYNN.

END GATE PASTENER.

No. 433,338. Patented July 29, 1890.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM ELIAS FLYN N, OF FRANKFORT, SOUTH DAKOTA.

EN D-GATE FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,338, dated July 29, 1890.

Application filed March 21, 1890. Serial No. 344,411. (No model.)

To all whom it 12mg concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM ELIAS FLYNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Frankfort,in the county of Spink and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in End-Gate Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in end-gate fasteners; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved device, showing the end-gate locked in place. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the device arranged to permit the removal of the end-gate. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the wagon-body, which is provided at its rear end on its sides with the vertical cleats B B, between which the end-gate 0 slides in the usual manner.

At the rear ends of the sides of the body and near the upper corners of the same I provide the horizontal bolts D, the eyes E of which project through the inner sides of the rear cleats B, and the said cleats are provided with the recesses F, so as to permit the links or arms of the locking device to more readily engage the said eyes, and also to permit the eyes to be drawn partially within the plane of the cleats, so as not to interfere with the removing of articles from the wagon.

The locking device consists, essentially, of the links or arms G H, provided with hooks I at their ends adapted to engage the eyes E on the wagon-body, and a cam-lever J, to which the inner ends of the said arms G H are pivoted, and which is oscillated to fasten or unfasten the gate, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The shorter arm II has its inner end pivoted to the cam-lever J, at the angle or fulcrum of the same, and the longer arm G has its inner end engaging one of a series of perforations K, which extend 5o outward from the said cam-lever. The free end of this lever is pivoted with the hook L, which when the end-gate is fastened is engaged under the arm G, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, so as to prevent the accidental un- 5 5 locking of the gate.

From the foregoing description the operation of my improved device will be readily understood. The end-gate is pushed vertically downward with its end edges engaged oc between the cleats B on the wagon-body, after which the hooks I at the ends of the arms G II are engaged in the eyes E on the Wagon-body, and the inner end of the arm G is fitted in the proper perforation K to cause a proper tension on the cam-lever and the sides of the body. The lever is then vibrated so that its free end will be swung toward the longer arm G, thereby causing the inner ends of the arms G H to approach each other, as will be readily understood upon reference to the drawings, and consequently draw the sides of the wagon-body firmly against the ends of the end-gate, thereby locking the endgate in position. The hook L is then engaged 7 5 under the arm G, and retrograde movement of the lever and the locking-arms will be prevented.

It will be observed that my device is extremely simple in its construction and can be manufactured at a slight cost.

By providing the series of perforations in the cam-lever, I am enabled to adjust the device to wagon-bodies of diiferent widths, and thereby employ the same locking device on different wagons and be assured of proper results.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

As an improvement in end-gates, the combination of the body having the recesses F, the end-gate mounted between thesides of the body, the eyebolts mounted in the sides of the body and having their eyes fitting in the recesses F, the angle-lever having a hook L at the end of its longer arm and having its shorter arm provided with a series of trans- Verse perforations, a link H, having one end In testimony whereof I affix my signature in pivoted to the lever at the angle of the same presence of two Witnesses. and its other end provided with a hook engaging one of the eyebolts, and a link G, WILLIAM ELIAS FLXNN having one end engaging the other eyebolt Witnesses:

and its opposite end engaging one of the per- JOHN P. PARSONS,

forations in the lever, as specified. E. ELWARK. 

